New Labour team uses Yorkshire Show to set out priorities

Defra’s new-look ministerial team was out in force at the Great Yorkshire Show this week, meeting farmers and setting out some key priorities for government.

There were no new promises on agricultural funding, though secretary of state Steve Reed said he would be “fighting the corner” for farmers as the spending review approaches.

See also: Meet the new crop of MPs representing rural areas

More concrete assurances were made on tackling fairness in the supply chain, with an announcement said to be “imminent”.

“Food producers have told me they do not want to just be dependent on funding from government – they want to stand on their own two feet,” Mr Reed told journalists at the show.

Self-reliant

“They want to be self-reliant, so we will look at fairness in the supply chain, as well as all the other measures we’re looking at as part of our new deal for farmers, to help them reduce costs and become more financially sustainable into the future.”  

Other issues ministers promised to look at as a matter of urgency include national biosecurity, with the threat of African swine fever (ASF) looming over the pig industry, and the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme.

Though the Labour Party is committed to maintaining ELM, officials have already been tasked with looking at the available impact evidence on the scheme to see what is working and where things can be improved.

Trade deals

It was also suggested that the Australia and New Zealand trade deals may be looked at again by the new government – a move welcomed by National Beef Association chief executive Neil Shand, though he did warn his members were more focused on the domestic matters of “budget and badgers.”

Potential changes to inheritance tax were played down, too. 

Together with new Defra farming minister Daniel Zeichner, Mr Reed visited the NFU and Country, Land and Business Association (CLA)  stands, and met the Future Farmers of Yorkshire, where both received a warm reception.

One attendee of the show told Farmers Weekly that their meeting with the Labour team was the best meeting they’d had with any minister in the past couple of years – noting their willingness to listen, open body language and good rapport with officials.

Speech

This approach was highlighted by Mr Reed during a speech he made at the CLA stand, where he committed to working with rural communities on future policy.

“I want to reassure you that, as we fight to give farmers and rural communities their future back, decisions will no longer be taken behind the closed doors of Westminster, but will be based on your experiences and expertise as food producers and stewards of our countryside,” he said.

Earlier this week, Mr Reed also met his counterparts in the devolved nations, pledging to work closely with them. His predecessor, Conservative Steve Barclay, had been accused of “ignoring” Scottish rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon.

Meanwhile, two other junior ministers were appointed to the department – Emma Hardy, MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, and Baroness Sue Hayman, herself a former shadow Defra secretary and president of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.